Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 2: Militants shot dead a 30-year old National Conference (NC) worker and former Sarpanch of a village in South Kashmir district of Pulwama this afternoon.
Witnesses said that four militants armed with AK-47 rifles came in a Santro car and stopped at the main entrance of Fayaz Ahmad Bhat son of Abdul Gani Bhat at village Kandizal in South Kashmir district of Pulwama this afternoon.
They said that the militants opened main entrance of the house and fired indiscriminately at Bhat who was sitting in the compound. As they fired at him, the family members came out and raised an alarm and militants fired at the main gate to scare them.
The family members also chased the car of the militants and pelted stones at it. But the militants managed to escape from the spot leaving Bhat in a pool of blood. He was immediately removed to a nearby Sub District Hospital, Pampore, where doctors declared him brought dead. He had received at least 5 bullets mostly in his chest and had died on the spot.
Senior police and Army officers rushed to the village to take stock of the situation. However, militants had already managed to escape from the area. Sources said that Hizbul Mujahideen is responsible for the attack and security forces have launched massive man hunt against the assailants of Bhat.
Bhat was elected Sarpanch of Kandizal village five years ago but the term of the Panchayats in the State ended in July this year. He was associated with the opposition NC.
A police statement issued here said that militants shot at 30 year old Fayaz Ahmad Bhat son of Abdul Gani Bhat a resident of Kandizal, in district Pulwama at his as home. “He was shifted to hospital where doctors declared him as brought dead,” the statement said. “Police and security forces immediately cordoned-off the area. The deceased is survived by four sisters and aged parents”, it added.
This is the first political killing by militants since the unrest began in Kashmir on July 9 after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.
Militants of Hizbul Mujahideen had recently issued several statements threatening the mainstream political party workers, leaders, Panchs and Sarpanchs. They had asked them to resign from their parties or face the consequences.
They had also issued threats to the policemen asking them to resign or face consequences. Two cops were also killed in South Kashmir by militants during the unrest.
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